On the streets of Puebla. Beautiful old fountain in Paseo Bravo park is a monument to the cities founder, Toribio de Benavente - Motolinía. Thanks to the trio of walkers for co-ordinating their step. The monument to Toribio, founder of the city of Puebla is located in the Paseo de la Independencia (Paseo Bravo). Puebla was founded by Fray Toribio de Benavente in 1531. Toribio de Benavente O.F.M. (Benavente, c 1482 -. 1569, Mexico) better known as Motolinía was a Franciscan missionary who served as historian of New Spain. He was part of the Twelve Apostles of Mexico. He was characterized by promoting an intense evangelization of the people of Mesoamerica. Motolinía is the name he adopted by residents of Mexico. It means poor or afflicted in Nahuatl. His writings published about local customs and traditions just after the Conquest of Mexico have been accepted as valid historical documents. However Toribio had a responsibility to promote the Catholic religion in Mexico. This is why he was strongly denounced by Fray Bartolome de las Casas to the king of Spain Carlos V, sparking a conflict between these two religious figures. Toribio was born in Benavente in the province of Zamora, Spain. At 17 donned habit the Franciscan province of Santiago and adopted the name of Toribio de Benavente, after the name of the town where the Franciscan order was born.
